During many of my presentations, I hold up a tattered copy of my favorite bedtime story, Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book. Throughout my life, this author has continued to inspire me. The first book I remember reading was Green Eggs and Ham, and Oh the Places You’ll Go continues to be a favorite graduation gift for my students. So when I was greeted by this bulletin board at Whispering Meadows Elementary School, I knew it would be a special day. No doubt, the students at this phenomenal school are “off to great places,” and I want to thank their teachers for being an integral part of the journey.

Visiting Whispering Meadows was inspiring because I observed teachers doing so much more than teaching content; they were giving their students hope. These educators are clearly helping children envision futures with unlimited possibilities. Throughout the United States, teachers feel pressure to be sure their students perform, but thankfully, at this school, the power of creativity and imagination hasn’t been forgotten in the process. Just strolling through “Triville” made me want to dream big dreams and tackle new mountains.  If more adults could spend their days walking among truffula trees like these children do every day, maybe our adult lives wouldn’t seem nearly as complicated. Which makes me think of another Dr. Seuss quote, “Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple.” I think the teachers at Whispering Meadows have stumbled upon a simple solution to a complicated question. Everyone in our society is asking how we can best educate our youth. That’s a pretty complicated question! However, maybe the answer isn’t found in a magic program or perfect assessment. Possibly, the answer lies in rekindling the imagination of childhood. Of course, we have to be sure our students learn content, but at Whispering Meadows, I was reminded of the importance of balance.

Thank you, Whispering Meadows, for remembering that “a person’s a person no matter how small,” and for being sure those small people aren’t robbed of opportunities to dream big. Whispering Meadows, you believe in the power of imagination, and today, I celebrate you!

Today, I start my blog by describing the end of my visit to Aboite Elementary School. I had already bonded with the incredibly personable office staff earlier in the morning, so I felt comfortable chatting with them when I signed out. I told them that Aboite  was one of the schools I regretted having to leave. I often encounter schools that have a certain “je ne sais quoi” that makes me want to stay. Usually, it is hard to identify one attribute that makes a school so welcoming. At Aboite, however, I have no doubt that it was the staff’s personalities that made a difference. Energetic educators with bright, welcoming smiles greeted me at every turn. As my eyes shifted from the teachers’ smiles to the children’s faces, it occurred to me that students are usually mirrors of their teachers. Not only were the children smiling, but they also treated each other with incredible respect.  Obviously, the students learned about that respect by watching their teachers. Without a doubt, the climate of the entire school reflected the character of the adults in the building. In keeping with this theme, let’s consider a famous quote that is particularly appropriate today.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, as we set aside time to celebrate the work of Dr. King, I rejoice in the ability of the teachers at Aboite Elementary School to accomplish this goal. The students at Aboite are obviously intelligent, but the teachers continue to challenge them by requiring them to think intensively and critically. Add to that the already clear commitment to modeling upright character, and you end up with a school that invites you to stay a little longer. I hope I can visit you again, Aboite Elementary School, today I celebrate you!

“Get down on the ground with them, and get those eyes in focus.” My husband is a much better photographer than I am, but I do try to remember this advice when taking pictures of children. At Deer Ridge Elementary School, the teachers reminded me that this photography advice is also applicable to our daily lives as educators.

The “get down on their level” thought occurred to me at the beginning of the day when I delivered my “celebration brownies” to the teachers’ workroom on the second floor. As I trudged up the steps, I thought about exhausted teachers making that climb every day just to get to lunch. The teachers, forever focused on the positive, just giggled when I commented on this irony and claimed they liked the exercise. While I was arranging the brownies, the bell rang, so I went out on the balcony and enjoyed a “view from above.” As I watched the children enter in an orderly fashion, everything from this perspective appeared quiet, simple, and neat.  I knew, however, that I wasn’t doing any good perched high above the students. So I did what the teachers at Deer Ridge do every day; I descended the steps determined to make a difference.

From the moment I arrived on the “ground floor,” I knew Deer Ridge was a place where educators remember to focus on the eyes of their students. Teachers dedicated to meeting individual needs demonstrated their ability to make every child feel valued. One thing I miss about being in my own classroom this year is the opportunity to work with students I know well on an individual basis. A kindergarten teacher seemed to sense my longing to make an individual connection, so she sent Aidan over to get the rocks he earned for his good behavior. As I bent down on Aidan’s level, looked into his eyes, and listened to the pride in his voice, I thought, “this is what I need to remember to do every day in my own classroom.” Yes, Aidan, you rock, and so do your teachers at Deer Ridge because they reminded me to focus on your eyes. Thank you, Deer Ridge staff, for descending the steps every day to make a difference. Today, I celebrate you.

How full is your bucket? At Flint Springs Elementary School, this question is asked often, and the last day of 2012 seems like a fitting time to reflect on the answer. Today marks the close of my official time as the Indiana Teacher of the Year. I’ve been told repeatedly that my commitments will continue, but I know the expectations will be different. At our Teacher of the Year trainings, they warned us about this day saying, “December 31st marks the end of your year of recognition, but it also begins your lifetime of obligation.” Visiting Flint Springs Elementary School helped me find a way to articulate how I intend to approach this time of transition.

The wise educators at Flint Springs use the book, How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer to create a climate of kindness. In the book, the main character, Felix, learns that negative words and actions empty the “buckets” of those around him. He soon discovers, however, that kindness is contagious, and when he is a “bucket filler,” he ends up feeling happy, too.

During 2012, many wonderful people filled my bucket to overflowing. Yet, throughout the year, I felt guilty knowing so many other educators deserve the same praise. The teachers at Flint Springs are perfect examples of the hard working people who warrant “bucket filling” experiences. Throughout my day at Flint Springs, I heard teachers affirming the work of their students. I wasn’t surprised because teachers are experts at praising others. However, as I admired these incredibly dedicated teachers, I wondered, “How often does someone take the time to fill those teachers’ buckets?” I know how their principal feels. When she talks about her staff, you can hear the pride in her voice, but we can’t just rely on administrators to be bucket fillers.

Which leads to my “lifetime of obligation.” In 2012, my bucket was filled. In 2013, I intend to share those drops of kindness with others. I will continue to praise and encourage my students, but I also commit myself to being a “bucket filler” for teachers. Thank you, Flint Springs, for helping me understand that my journey as the Teacher of the Year is not really ending. It is just the beginning of a lifetime of new opportunities to remind teachers that they have the most important job in the world. Happy New Year, Flint Springs, today, I celebrate you!

Last Friday, when I opened my laptop to write this blog, I learned of the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I closed my laptop, cried, and prayed. I sought answers to questions that should never have to be asked knowing full well that I would never understand. Even though I spend considerable time convincing my students that words have power, I knew in this instance that words would fall short. This is supposed to be a blog of celebrations, but I could not, at that moment, find much to celebrate. The answer finally came to me yesterday in the hallways of an elementary school. 

Several weeks ago, I scheduled my visit to Flint Springs Elementary School, and the principal and I agreed on the date of Monday, December 17th. At the time, I could never have fathomed what would occur the Friday before my visit, but I am grateful I was able to be at a school on this particular Monday. Being with children reminded me of the true value of the time we have together. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but each moment we spend with a child is precious. I hope that I, as a teacher, never forget that valuable lesson.

In my speeches, I often tell stories of mistakes I have made in hopes that others can learn from my downfalls. On one particular day, my principal walked in for my formal evaluation, and at that moment, I was so nervous about the evaluator standing in the back of my room, that I forgot to focus on the students sitting right there in front of me. I am ashamed when I describe that moment, but my honesty often resonates with others, and they, too, admit that it is easy to lose focus. When that happens, I know I am cheating my students out of my gift of time for them. Yesterday, I made an effort to really focus on the people I was seeing, not on the tasks I had to accomplish. Given the events of the last few days, I hope that is a lesson we will all remember.

As I continued to contemplate this gift of time yesterday, I, ironically, discovered a bulletin board that highlighted the importance of “Adequate Time.” While the board was referring to providing adequate time as a sound instructional practice, I wondered if we, as a nation, will give ourselves “adequate time.” Will we take the time to reflect, think, and process as the strategy suggests, or will we try to skip right to the organize and work stages?  Before we begin discussing “solutions” to violence in our society, maybe we would do well to invest some of that energy reflecting on what we’ve learned.

Many teachers are looking forward to having a little extra time over the upcoming break. Might I suggest that we use that time to reflect, process, and think about what is most important to us, then invest our time wisely. Today, in the midst of mourning, I celebrate time and reflect on the gift of every precious moment.